Everton 2-3 Aston Villa

Aston Villa held off a late Everton fight back to claim a second successive Women’s Super League win on Sunday afternoon. 

Noelle Maritz opened the scoring inside four minutes, combining well with Amalie Vangsgaard to carve through the home defence, before Vangsgaard then added two further goals establish a comfortable away lead.

The hosts clinched two goals late on through Holly McNamara and Noemie Mouchon though Villa held out to claim all three points on Merseyside.

Attentions now turn back to the Subway Players Cup as the Villans prepare to host second city rivals Birmingham City at Keys Park on Wednesday. Tickets are available to purchase HERE.

After taking a very early lead at Burnley in midweek, a much changed Villa returned to make another fast start at a chilly Goodison Park. 

Striker Vangsgaard made an immediate impact as she came back into the starting XI, linking up superbly with Maritz to clinch a deserved fourth minute lead.

The pair exchanged several passes in the final third to slice right through the heart of the Everton defence, before Maritz dashed into the box and lofted her finish over keeper Courtney Brosnan.

With the deadlock broken early, the first half continued at a frantic pace. 

Villa stopper Akane Okuma was called into action twice to repel the home side's attempts to secure an equaliser, standing tall to claim Ornella Vignola's close range effort, before doing similar to thwart Japan compatriot Nicole Momiki from distance.

All the while Villa remained very dangerous on the counter. Lynn Wilms and Chasity Grant took turns to fire deliveries into the box from the right, though Everton produced several late interceptions to halt the danger.

Nevertheless Villa continued their attacking exploits, with Vangsgaard ruthlessly capitalising on a cheap giveaway to double the arrears just past the half hour.

The Dane showed great awareness to spot Brosnan off her line before lobbing the ball into an empty net from some 30 yards, with the two goal lead remaining in tact at the interval.

Hosts Everton began the second half on the front foot in an attempt to start chipping away at the two-goal deficit, however Villa swiftly added a third.

In a reverse of the opener Maritz drove a low cross into the six yard box, which Vangsgaard prodded home at the front post for her second of the match.

With confidence high the away side continued pushing for more, with boss Sorensen introducing fresh legs off the bench in the form of Miri Taylor, Maya Hijikata and Missy Bo Kearns.

Kearns was on for her first minutes of the campaign having suffered a foot injury in pre-season.

At the top end Vangsgaard continued to torment the Everton defence.

She swivelled sharply to shoot at goal for a would-be hat-trick, though saw her effort blocked off the line by Toffees defender Naomi Layzell.

After several openings came and went for the home side, they eventually breached the Villa defence in the 79th minute.

Striker Holly McNamara was the first to react as a cross dropped to the floor in the area, poking between Patten and Okuma on the line.

Villa were made to weather persistent pressure from the home side as the clock ticked into the final ten minutes.

Momiki found space inside the area but her rushed finish flew high and wide of the upright with Okuma untroubled. 

Meanwhile Grant continued her tireless running in pursuit of further Villa goals, almost latching onto a Mathilde Harviken ball over the top before being replaced late on by Lily Murphy.

There was enough time for Everton to grab a second goal, with Mouchon's attempted cross drifting across goal and kissing the post on it's way into the net.

Yet it was Villa joy once again at the final whistle, as the side expertly navigated four minutes of stoppage time to claim a second league win of the season.